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Ex-Independent editor Simon Kelner to launch PR agency | Ex-Independent editor Simon Kelner to launch PR agency |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Simon Kelner, the former editor-in-chief of the Independent, is to launch a public relations agency in partnership with the ad agency co-founded by Trevor Beattie, the man behind campaigns including Wonderbra's famous "Hello Boys!". | Simon Kelner, the former editor-in-chief of the Independent, is to launch a public relations agency in partnership with the ad agency co-founded by Trevor Beattie, the man behind campaigns including Wonderbra's famous "Hello Boys!". |
Kelner, who stepped down as editor-in-chief of the Independent in 2011 after 13 years, is to open the doors on a new PR agency called Seven Dials. | Kelner, who stepped down as editor-in-chief of the Independent in 2011 after 13 years, is to open the doors on a new PR agency called Seven Dials. |
The Covent Garden-based agency, which has former deputy editor of the Observer Jocelyn Targett as creative director, is being backed by Beattie McGuinness Bungay, the ad agency co-founded by Beattie. | The Covent Garden-based agency, which has former deputy editor of the Observer Jocelyn Targett as creative director, is being backed by Beattie McGuinness Bungay, the ad agency co-founded by Beattie. |
Seven Dials has also hired Eleanor Conroy, a former PR executive at Freud and Saatchi & Saatchi, as business director. | Seven Dials has also hired Eleanor Conroy, a former PR executive at Freud and Saatchi & Saatchi, as business director. |
Kelner, who owns a significant stake in the venture, said the agency has already signed up clients including Fortnum & Mason, Aberdeen Asset Management and fledgling drinks brand 31Dover.com. | Kelner, who owns a significant stake in the venture, said the agency has already signed up clients including Fortnum & Mason, Aberdeen Asset Management and fledgling drinks brand 31Dover.com. |
"13 years as the editor-in-chief of the Independent means I have been at the intersection of journalism and PR," says Kelner. "I understand what's good PR and bad PR and how reputations are made and lost pretty quickly. I'm putting that knowledge to work for clients. What we are offering is chief executive counsel and reputation management, plus full a day-to-day PR service." | "13 years as the editor-in-chief of the Independent means I have been at the intersection of journalism and PR," says Kelner. "I understand what's good PR and bad PR and how reputations are made and lost pretty quickly. I'm putting that knowledge to work for clients. What we are offering is chief executive counsel and reputation management, plus full a day-to-day PR service." |
Seven Dials will have an advisory board that includes Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors and former PR chief to the Queen at Buckingham Palace and Charles Wilson, a former editor of the Times and Independent. | Seven Dials will have an advisory board that includes Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors and former PR chief to the Queen at Buckingham Palace and Charles Wilson, a former editor of the Times and Independent. |
The advisory panel will be chaired by Andrew McGuinness, the co-founder of BMB, which has clients including McCain, Samsung and Virgin Money. | The advisory panel will be chaired by Andrew McGuinness, the co-founder of BMB, which has clients including McCain, Samsung and Virgin Money. |
Kelner finished working with the Independent's owners in November when Evgeny Lebedev pulled the plug on a high-profile journalism foundation that he was leading. | Kelner finished working with the Independent's owners in November when Evgeny Lebedev pulled the plug on a high-profile journalism foundation that he was leading. |
He said BMB expressed interest in developing a PR arm and that he has been engaged in a "mixed portfolio of journalistic and PR style commitments", including writing a column for the i and consulting, and that the fit was right. | |
Kelner has known Beattie and co-founder McGuinness for a number of years, with the agency working on the Independent's advertising account, including the launch of 20p national paper the i. | Kelner has known Beattie and co-founder McGuinness for a number of years, with the agency working on the Independent's advertising account, including the launch of 20p national paper the i. |
"One thing I feel very, very strongly is that every company is a publisher," said Kelner. "Through social media, a [company] website or direct communications to customers. A lot need expert help with their publishing portfolio and we have a high level of expertise." | "One thing I feel very, very strongly is that every company is a publisher," said Kelner. "Through social media, a [company] website or direct communications to customers. A lot need expert help with their publishing portfolio and we have a high level of expertise." |
McGuiness said: "The boundaries between advertising and public relations have blurred. Clients come to us with business problems and more and more we're finding the answer involves public relations as well as social, experiential and more traditional routes. We wanted to invite a grown-up partner into that conversation. That's how Seven Dials was born." | |
Kelner is understood to be set to stand down from his position as a non-executive board director with Lebedev's Independent Print Ltd. | Kelner is understood to be set to stand down from his position as a non-executive board director with Lebedev's Independent Print Ltd. |
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